Which civilians do you salute

Do military members have to salute civilians such as the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Army, etc? No matter, as you are technically saluting the sticker, not the occupant. When in uniform, you salute when you meet and recognize an officer entitled to a salute by rank except when inappropriate or impractical.

A salute indoors is rendered only when reporting. When you are dismissed, or when the officer departs, come to attention and salute. Nothing at all. Any service member in uniform is free to salute any other service member of any rank at any time. In the British Armed Forces, the plural is sergeant majors and not sergeants major as it is in the United States.

Sergeant first class E-7 — six years. Sergeant major E-9 — nine years. Traditionally, only uniformed soldiers could salute the US flag during the National Anthem or when raising or lowering the flag. In , the US Congress approved legislation to allow veterans and members of the military who are not in uniform to salute the flag.

When in military uniform, military members are required to salute the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem.

Soldiers should also salute when the flag is raised or lowered. If the flag is passing, such as during a parade, the soldier salutes the flag when it is six paces away and holds the salute until the flag has passed an additional six paces. Members of the military and veterans who are not in uniform may render the salute or follow the same etiquette required of civilians. As with civilians, the president typically holds his hand over his heart to show respect for the flag. However, as the commander-in-chief, the president also has the right to give a military salute.

In the past several decades, it has become custom for US Presidents to salute military personnel, such as when boarding and exiting Air Force One or Marine One.

Members of Marine One are required to salute the president as he approaches the helicopter and when he exits. As with previous presidents, Ronald Reagan would nod and say hello to the Marines, but he found it awkward that the Marines could not drop their hands. They had to hold their salute as he passed. Ronald Reagan decided to return the salute so that the Marines could stand at ease. However, this goes against existing protocols for rendering the salute.

According to Federal regulations, individuals can only render the salute when in uniform and hat. Before , veterans and active service members in civilian clothes were also prohibited from giving a salute.

As Ronald Reagan was wearing civilian clothing, his salute would violate US regulations. Before violating the regulations, Reagan sought counsel from the commandant of Marine One. He told Reagan that as president no one would stop him from giving the salute. George H. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. In the final analysis, military courtesy is the respect shown to each other by members of the same profession. Commissioned officers and to a lesser extent, warrant officers run the U.

They are the top dogs. As such, they're always addressed politely, using sir or ma'am. Tip: In the Marine Corps , Air Force and the first couple weeks of Coast Guard basic training, instructors also also addressed as sir or ma'am. Don't overuse these terms, though. In other words, don't say something like, "Sir, I have to go to the bathroom, sir. Warning: If you're attending Army or Navy basic training, do not address your training instructor as sir or ma'am.

This is guaranteed to result in a loud tirade about how they work for a living. In the Army and Navy, drill instructors are addressed by using their military rank and often their last name -- for example, Chief or Staff Sergeant Smith. In Marine Corps basic training, do not use personal pronouns such as "you," "I" or "we.

Instead, speak in the third person: "Does the drill instructor want this recruit to inform the other recruits of his instructions? The salute isn't simply an honor exchanged; it's a privileged gesture of respect and trust among military members. Remember: The salute is not only prescribed by regulation, but is also recognition of each other's commitment, abilities and professionalism.

The salute is widely misunderstood outside the military. Some consider it to be a gesture of servility since the junior extends a salute to the senior, but this interpretation isn't true at all. The salute is an expression that recognizes each other as a member of the profession of arms -- that they have made a personal commitment of self-sacrifice to preserve the American way of life. The fact that the junior extends the greeting first is merely a point of etiquette -- a salute extended or returned makes the same statement.

Tip: The way you salute says a lot about you as a military member. A proud, smart salute shows pride in yourself and your unit and that you're confident in your abilities as a soldier.

A sloppy salute can mean that you're ashamed of your unit, lack confidence or, at the very least, haven't learned how to salute correctly. You'll get plenty of practice saluting in basic training, but it wouldn't hurt to practice in front of a mirror several times before you leave so that you can do it correctly automatically.

All military enlisted personnel in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize a commissioned or warrant officer, except when it is inappropriate or impractical for example, if you're carrying something using both hands. A salute also is rendered:.